The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the case filed by the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, challenging his impeachment by the state House of Assembly, to October 16, 2023.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the adjournment was granted on Monday, at the instance of the plaintiff’s counsel, who argued that the reconciliation committee set up by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to mediate on the dispute between some of the parties to the suit should be given a chance to work.
Counsel to the plaintiff also argued that the House of Assembly’s petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC) against the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, had created a cloud of uncertainty over the case and that it would be in the best interest of justice to await the outcome of the NJC’s investigation.
Counsel to the state governor and the Chief Judge of the state, however, opposed the adjournment, arguing that the reconciliation committee was not a party to the case and that the NJC petition was irrelevant to the matter at hand.
Justice Nwite, in his ruling, said he was inclined to grant the adjournment in order to encourage the reconciliation process and to protect the integrity of the court.
He, however, warned the lawyers and the Nigerian Bar Association to do their best to protect the sanctity of the legal profession and avoid temptations from politicians to disparage the judiciary.
The judge also advised any party dissatisfied with any decision of the court to follow the appropriate channels laid down for remedy.
On September 26, 2023, the court had made orders of injunction restraining the House of Assembly of Ondo State, the Chief Judge of Ondo State, the Ondo Governor, and other defendants in the case from taking steps that would lead to the impeachment of the Deputy Governor.
The order was made to last till the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction, which is still pending before the court.
